new products

As I’m sure you’ve read or heard about the unsure and unpredictable retailing world this holiday season – and as people are looking for gifts in small, independent shops – you’re sure to find that items are quickly selling out as most retailers and distributors were conservative in their ordering this year. We have had a few successes and sell-outs this year and I wanted to share some of the stand outs from Penguin Books that are sure to sell out before year’s end. Graham Roumieu’s Bigfoot series of books has been a book consistently gets giggles in the shop and is now one those classic gifts that keep on giving. Not only is he from Toronto – but his also a Sheridan grad and his recent book – 101 Ways to Kill Your Boss is also becoming a fave of our customers. We’ve been a fan of Keri Smith’s work now for a few years, first learning of her creative ways via her blog and then her fantastic Wreck This Journal. It’s so wonderful and amazing to see people interacting via pen and paper and Keri Smith has made it her mission to help people live each day a little more creatively than the last. We’ve got her most recent titles, How to Be an Explorer of the World and This is Not a Book back in stock and are hearing positive comments as folks move from title to title in search of art, emotions and creativity in their daily lives.

The Globe and Mail recently profiled Tara Books, exploring this independent imprint’s “deeply improbable success” in the midst of the current economic recession. Tara believes that books are literary objects, with the potential to be art as well as contain it. They also strive to make this artwork (whether by tribal Indian artists, American folk singers or Grecian illustrators) accessible for all, both young and old alike. We hope to soon have a few copies in-store – just from what I’ve seen online I can tell you I am very excited to sell these!

Just got a new batch of Lister Block T-shirts by Hamilton artist Matt McInnes. These very cool tees feature an iconic illustrated image of the embattled Hamilton landmark. The building located in the downtown core at the corner of James and King William Streets was in the news recently now that the long overdue restoration of the building is now underway. Pick up a shirt and show your pride for Hamilton’s heritage as seen through the eyes of one of our most creative artists.